PHL, US conclude first part of joint Marine training

Marine forces from the Philippines and the United States (US) on Friday successfully concluded the first part of their bilateral training under the Marine Aviation Support Activity 2022 (MASA 22).

Held from June 6 to June 17, 2022, the initial two-week joint training conducted in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, and Puerto Princesa City, Palawan enhanced the interoperability and aviation-related capabilities of the US Marine Corps (USMC) and Philippine Marine Corps (PMC).

Troops from the Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Naval Wing also joined the military exercise.

A Philippine military statement said both the PMC and the USMC demonstrated aviation assets as they conducted training on combined and joint forward arming and refueling, high mobility artillery rocket system rapid Infiltration, and unmanned aviation systems.

“Training side by side increases our combined military capability, but also our friendship, which directly contributes to the strength of our alliance,” said US Marine Forces Pacific Commanding General Lieutenant General Steven Rudder in a US Embassy statement.

“This exercise builds on decades of cooperation, friendship, and shared experience,” he added.

Brigadier General Jimmy Larida, PMC 3rd Marine Brigade Commander, lauded the MASA 2022 exercise held in Palawan, saying it boosted the two countries’ marine and aviation units’ “effectiveness and readiness” to protect their respective territories.

“It will also improve our interoperability with the US Marine Corps and contribute to our longstanding alliance with the US Armed Forces,” Larida said.

The second phase of MASA 2022 will be held on July 18 to July 22, 2022 in Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, Zambales; Camp Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija; and in the PMC headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

It would focus on combined tactical and heliborne training between USMC and PMC partner units. —Sundy Locus/KBK, GMA News